Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 4:7

τίς γάρ σε διακρίνει; “for who marks thee off?” (or “separates thee? discernit, Vg [691] ”) what warrant for thy boasting, “I am of Paul,” etc., for ranging thyself in this coterie or that? “The διάκρισις was self-made” (El [692]). The other rendering, “Who makes thee to differ?” (to be superior: eximie distinguit, Bg [693]) sc. “who but God? ” suits the vb [694] διακρίνω, but is hardly relevant. This question stigmatises the partisan conceit of the Cor [695] as presumptuous; those that follow, τί δὲ … εἰ δὲ καὶ … marks it as ungrateful; both ways it is egotistic. τί δὲ ἔχεις κ. τ. λ.: “what moreover hast thou that thou didst not receive?” i.e., from God (1 Corinthians 1:4 f., 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 1Co 3:10, 1 Corinthians 12:6, etc.). For this pregnant sense of λαμβάνω, cf. Acts 20:35. “But if indeed thou didst receive (it), why glory as one that had not received?” The receiver may boast of the Giver (1 Corinthians 1:31), not of anything as his own. καὶ lends actuality to the vb [696]; “ εἰ καὶ, de re quam ita esse ut dicitur significamus” (Hermann); cf. 2 Corinthians 4:3. καυχᾶσαι, a rare form of 2nd sing [697] ind [698] mid [699]; Wr [700], p. 90. For ὡς with ptp [701], of point of view (perinde ac), see Bm [702], p. 307; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:3.

[691] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[692] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[693] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[694] verb

[695] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[696] verb

[697]ing. singular number.

[698] indicative mood.

[699] middle voice.

[700] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[701] participle

[702] A. Buttmann's Grammar of the N.T. Greek (Eng. Trans., 1873).

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 4:7

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